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This is weather for spring time days.. not Christmas Eve..
But this is the year, as the AP reports here, the weather has changed and everything is upside down.
This is weather for spring time days.. not Christmas Eve..
But this is the year, as the AP reports here, the weather has changed and everything is upside down.
I like today’s Drudge Report headline. Good touch ole sparky.
The story linked above his fold is well to do with weather–it’s some weird weather this year actually. The temperature this Christmas Eve as I write this at 7:15am outside my Pennsylvania abode is nearing 60. It’s going to edge towards 70 as the day persists.. by nightfall, Santa’s sleigh will trudge through mud as it attempts to gain entry to all East Coast cities and towns.
This is going to be a warm one.. Actually a hot one.
All records in various places may be broken today.. There will be no white Christmas.. the Heat Miser is winning.
From ACCUWEATHER:
It is a strange moment, walking out into the December air and being greeted with the warmth of a spring or summer morning.. And even more, explain the Santa’s sleigh issue to a nearly 5 year old child who analysis things way too much for his own good at his age. My son told me he could not wait to build a snow man Christmas day. I had to break the bad news of weather. . while he did not seem to care too much after a few months, it was an intense line of questions hurled at me all about why pictures show snow and he was under the impression that Santa needed it.
Nonetheless,
No white Stuff.
Only the hot stuff.
And lots of it.
Merry Christmas EVE.
A few more reminders of the heat:
New Yorkers Seen Wearing Sandals, Shorts During Freak Heatwave…
Ice Cream Sales Up in Times Square!
Orlando to reach 86°, topple 1924 record…
The Vatican descents!
The pope won’t watch it!
Paper says it overdoes the darkness..
Wear shorts and a bathing suit caroling this year.. No snow for Santa. Warmth is about to break records ..
Mass shooting, racial police issues, and fear over terrorism reign high as well.
Looking back with poll results like this, the spirit of he nation seems battered, broken, and down..
The final few days of shopping are here..
The last chances to wrap gifts..
Tis the season for small annoyances, like bad traffic or office Christmas parties where someone you never expected would get a bit too tipsy, or offensive. I have often thought that often co-workers (sometimes family, too), aren’t people you pick. They aren’t friends. They are necessary. You may like some.. but chances are, if you’re at a party of 50, you’ll really want to associate with just four or five.
Nonetheless, at a gathering just days ago of people, I noted several conversations were about attempts to get better health in the new year, be happier, eat right, and cut down on the luxuries and lushness of life. All this being said while food was in one hand and alcohol in the other..
I am perplexed yearly by this notion that December 31 into January 1 will suddenly equal a burst of health, weight loss, and better moods. By the second week of January, when the bills start coming in and researchers say “Blue Monday” hits, we are already ditching the yearly get rich or well quick schemes, and replacing them with the bad habits all over again.
But maybe that is because the actual attempts are wrong to begin with.
The end of a year and the beginning of a new one is sort of the same as how parts of the earth feel this time of year, as well. The cyclical nature of seasons and time—we are one with the planet and quite possibly one with the feelings of the season. Sorry to go pagan, but maybe even the natural phases of the moon and sun, along with the Solstices, deserve a party! Minus the human sacrifices of ancient Yule time.
My point is, trying to change habits at this time of year is fine. It’s the end of a year. Again. Another 12 months, 525,600 minutes behind us, and a whole new 12 months of anarchy on the way..
But what habits are you trying to break? And why..?
“I want to be healthier.”
Fine and cool. It is not bad to be healthy.. But think before you drink. I love the idea that “wine may be good for my heart.” I’m no doctor, but I know the dangers of alcohol when used in excess. And while the skin of grapes could have benefits, so does dark chocolate. Oh, and skin of grapes—meaning you can actually eat grapes as opposed to drinking fermented versions of the product..
“I want to lose weight.”
So quick diets and fad trends are imposed on your body. You don’t react as you’d expect in two weeks, and you give it. Weight loss takes time. It took a while to gain it, you surely won’t lose it faster. So if you’re serious about losing weight, just realize you may get a quick hit of ten pounds if you’re really overweight, then it will become stagnant. If you’re closer to normal, you may lose very weight at all but could gain muscle if done the right way…and muscle has weight, so your scale could stay the same.
“I want a new job.”
Don’t we all sometimes? Before you get on a new job bandwagon, make a “why I hate my job list.” Then make a “why I have it okay at my job list.” And be honest, include everything, like 401K or pension, free parking, health insurance. See which list has more. Afterwards critically think about what you put. If hatred of your co-workers made the “Why I hate my job list,” go back and read some Yoda. Fear equal hate. Hate equals war.
Be brave and be honest. Trying to get a better job is not a bad thing. But never do something simply based off of hate. You’ll make the wrong decision every time.
My advice for this time of year.. Use the force. It’s all around you. Close your eyes…wait…I saw STAR WARS too many times.
or did I?
The ‘force’ may not only be strong for the Jedi, but it could be real..
You could be a part of something far greater than yourself. A universe that goes on forever and somehow is connected in strange ways by invisible math and physics. It’s a great time to be alive, with advanced discoveries that are beautiful and making life better. Yes there is loathsome fear and terror, as we talked about on here several times over the past few weeks, but don’t give into it. Do not let fear guide you. Embrace fear.
A few years ago when I had to give a public speech to a group of 700 people, I did something remarkable. It changed me forever. Up until that point I Was scared to death of public speaking. It’s when I realized that my entire life was made up of public speaking that the fear started to dwindle. I was a waiter since 16. I addressed crowds of 8 to 50 people on a regular basis, even made an open mic speech to a wedding party of 200 naming dessert choices. So public speaking was the simple part.. the hard part was figuring out that if you just do it and stop thinking so much, you’ll be fine. I embraced the fear and actually let it consume me for a moment, I purposely even tried making myself more fearful of the event. At that point, it left me.
Was I still a bit nervous? Yes. Was I filled with trembling fear anymore? Not even close..
Fear about the future is a strange thing, after all.
Consider this: The future is not real, it did not happen, and there is no proof of what is coming. The only thing real is now. Even the past may not be real anymore since it stopped existing. The second of time you stand in, however, is undeniable.
So fearing the future is insane. You’re fearing something that did not occur, that is not here, and that is not year coming to fruition.
Stop fearing.
And on that note, the real new years’ resolution you should strictly maintain:
Be you. Stop hating. Your hating is equaling worse things. It’s creating a worse world. It’s making things bleak. It’s ruining children’s futures. It’s stopping progress. And it’s forcing you to be cemented in ideologies that are failed and ones that should be long gone.
Believe me, I have never been accused of being an optimist.
But I equally have never defined myself as a pessimist. I am a realistic, sometimes nervous and paranoid, conspiracy-theory loving (not always believing) observer of society. From my own personal circle of friends and family to the world as a whole, I sit back and often watch.
My resolution: in 2016 I plan on watching less and doing more..
The next time a fight breaks out at a mall, and I know who is at fault, I will make sure I speak up.
Fear is not an option.
In 2016, neither is silence.
And seriously it’s December 21 already? The year…went…where? It’s almost gone? Done? Finished.. That’s bizarre to me. It really feels like it turned the big 15 yesterday… It did not. But ‘tomorrow’ or something similar it will be 16.. And you know how 16 year olds act… Get ready for another wild year no doubt..
THE MEAN SEASON IS HERE.. THERE IS A CAMPAIGN TO REMOVE MARISSA MAYER AS THE CEO OF YAHOO!
Michael Wolff in USA TODAY writes,
For investors the choice is simple. Sell it now in a way that, according to various estimates from some of the funds now heavily invested in the company, would yield approximately $46 a share. Or, look a year or more into the future, when, after a restructuring, Yahoo managers can try again to make good on a turn around plan that they have for several years gamely tried, and abjectly failed at.
In the eyes of investors, and, likely the cosmos too, it is not just mismanagement, and lack of vision, or lost opportunities — not buying Netflix when it was cheap, for instance. Rather the problem is in the nature of Yahoo, and, arguably, digital media itself.
And this is important for a few reasons to some of you reading. If you blog on Tumblr, don’t forget who the landlord is..
Geocities part 2?
It’s beginning to look a lot like summer, just in time for Santa..
Seriously. This will be the temperature map around Christmas.. 70 in DC.. widespread 50s and 60s. No snow, no chance of reindeer tracks.. no need for a sleigh..
No ice skating.. No nostalgic Christmas feeling. Instead you may get a hint of a notion to try to find Easter eggs and wear a bonnet.
The Heat Miser victorious in ‘15..
It’s this weekend..
It’s happening..
Star Wars is about to take over pop culture.. take over movie theaters.. take over the gift selection on Christmas morning.
But will the newest generation of movie going Star Wars fans awaken enough to accept Kylo Ren over Darth Vader? Will the newest generation appreciate the circumstances that befall the heroes of A NEW HOPE, the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and THE RETURN OF THE JEDI?
There are some prospects that this weekend’s movie going audience will make the FORCE AWAKENS’ profits swell to over $200 mil by the time we hit Sunday. Maybe more.
Actually probably more..
I think there will be more than a few that also see the movie more than one. Or twice.. or thrice..
There will be debates outside of movie theaters..in the seats.. people soiling and spoiling online without regard to kindness of those who have yet to see the film.
The NEW HOPE was seen by over 230 million people from 1977 through 1979, according to most estimates. This film? Maybe not nearly as much. So does that mean less of a pop cultural impact? Does that mean it’s going to amount to a less significant purpose in society?
Most likely nothing will ever be able to recreate the magic of the original STAR WARS series. Not even George Lucas was able to do that with the newest batch of forgettable flicks–except Jar Jar Binks, who we actually remember for all the wrong reasons. But this new movie may come close to redefining a series of a new generation.. one that has the unruly mayhem of Kylo Ren as the villain.. and a new generation of Jedis with attitude as the heroes and heroines.
Is THE FORCE AWAKENS going to give us heroes we want? Or heroes we need? Are we going to get the villains we want? Or potentially the villains who will remind us all too well of the madness on Earth?
There are lots of interesting comparisons STAR WARS can have to society at large, the planet of politics and international intrigue..
Pop culture awaits a decision by the movie going audiences of the planet earth. The force awakening? Or just tossing and turning during sleep…?
…I’m going to institute a self imposed ban on reviewing the film or giving any personal thoughts on it for at least 24-48 hours.. Much to digest. Much to contemplate.. Much to consider .. Expect something from your friendly neighborhood Coal Speaker.. Just not yet.
Amazing story.. A nearby (relatively nearby considering the vast distances of space and time) a planet rests that may be habitable ..
http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/world/wolf-1061-exoplanet-alien-life/index.html
Good article.. I have my own thoughts I’ll be writing.
This article goes to great pains attempting to explain why Stephen Colbert is failing in ratings.. One theory even says he is too smart for his audience.
I disagree.
If you read back in the annals of this website, I predicted it would fail.. I thought this was a moment for CBS to name a female host for late night.. It was the moment. They blew it.
People don’t like politics at night. For that, they turn to the DAILY SHOW. For late night, they want silly lip synch battles, or as David Letterman once did, sidewalk races..
People want something to make their minds forget the day before bed.
Colbert reminds them of everything about the day they hated.
And that is why they turned to Fallon and will not turn away.